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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wake · drill · mug · rest · saw · bass · suit · bay

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. suit — in cards
  3. drill — a practice
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bass — low music
  7. suit — to fit
  8. drill — the tool
  9. mug — a cup
  10. drill — army training
  11. suit — clothes
  12. rest — a break
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. mug — to rob
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. wake — a trail
  18. rest — what's left
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com